Fastening device



Sept. 6, 1932. J. G. JACKSON FASTENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1930 v INVENTOR Jackson BY W ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. JACKSON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 SQUARE 1) COMPANY, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN FASTENING DEVICE Application filed October This invention relates generally to fastening devices for detachably securing a plurality of members together, and more particularly to a fastening device which is especially adapted and designed to secure the trim or cover-plate upon an electrical pane board cabinet or housing.

The invention has among its objects to produce a device of the above character which is strong and durable and simple and dependable in operation.

The invention has for a further object to improve generally devices of this character and the above, as well as other objects, advantages aud novel details of construction of the invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an electrical panel board cabinet with my improved fastening Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 3*? of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a panel board housing as viewed from the interior showing the device in its applied position.

Figure 6 is a group perspective of the device.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the forwardly projecting side wall of an electrical panel board box or casin having a marginal iii-turned flange 2 up bn which a trim or cover plate 3 is adapted a vertical section on line 4-4:

to rest, the trim plate preferably projecting 1 beyond the cabinet wall 1 for concealing the joint between the cabinet wall opening in which the cabinet is arranged. As shown in Figures 2 and l, the

plate 3 is provided with a circular opening .a clamping memb device applied thereto.

and the building 6, 1930. Serial No. 486,855.

i and an arcuate opening 5 communicating with the circular opening, the ends-0f the arcuate opening defining spaced stops or abutments for a purpose to be hereinafter made clear.

The fastening device comprises essentially er 6 and an actuating ele- 7, the clamping memberbeing the inner side of the cover 3 and provided with a nut 8 threadedly engaged by the screw 7 which extends through the circular opening in the cover and has its head 9 located exteriorly of the housing and adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool such'as a screw driver whereby the screw may be 'rotatedto cause the clamping ment or screw plate member to move longitudinally thereof toward or away from'tl're inner surfaces of the flange 2 and cover 3-.

As herein shown, thecl amping or locking member 6 is substantially channel-shaped and is formed from asinglepice of material and comprises the intermediate or base portions 6A, and the longitudinally extending sides 10 arranged at right angle'sTto the portions 6A. The sides 10 preferably decrease in width from their central portion toward their opposite ends to provide the requisite strength to, withstand the clamping force to which they are subjected, and the'ends are rounded so as to have a-limited contact area with the parts to be clamped. are providedat points substantially midway between their ends and longitudinal edges with aligned apertures 12 which are adapted to receive the cars So projecting from opposite sides of the nut 8 for forming a pivota mounting for the clamping member dwhere;

by said member may rock or pivot to insure proper contact witlrthe surfaces to be engaged thercby"*-even' though these surfaces are in different horizontal planes without resulting in canting or tilting of the actuating screw 7.

To restrain pivotal movement of the The sides 10 inoperative position.

clamping member and normally maintain the same in a horizontal position at substantially right angles to the actuating screw 7 a bowed leaf spring 13 is sleeved upon the screw and as clearly shown in Figure 2, has its central portion engaging the nut 8 and its opposite ends engaging the spaced base portions 6A of the clamping member.

For the purpose of holding the clamping member from rotating on the screw, a platelike or yoke member 14 is employed. The base 15 of the yoke is formed with an aperture 16 for loosely receiving the screw 7 whereby the yoke member may be sleeved thereon and the arms 17 of the yoke are adapted to be arranged at right angles to the clamping member and upon and adjacent opposite sides thereof. The base 15 of the yoke is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite pressed out bosses 18 which are adapted to seat in correspondingly located notches 19 formed in the head of the actuating screw. Interposed between the leaf=spring 13 and the base 15 of the yoke is a coiled compression spring 20 functionin to constantly urge the yoke toward the hea of the screw and maintain the bosses 18 in engagement with the notches 19 so as to provide a yieldable clutch or drive between the yoke and screw. As clearly apparent from Figure 2, the spring 20 also urges the base 15 of the yoke into engagement with the inner side of the cover 3 and the end of the cylindrical portion 9a of the head of the actuating screw which is journalled in the circular opening 4 for holding the device in position on the cover-plate. It will be seen that w actuated to an extent hen the screw is to relieve clamping yoke whereby these members and also the clamping member will be moved as a unit with the screw to shift the clamping member to an operative position as indicated by the full lines in Figure 5, or to an inoperative position as indicated by dotted lines in this figure.

is adapted to travel in the arcuate slot 5 and engage the opposite ends of the slot for arresting movement of the clamping member when the same has reached an operative or Should the clamping member 6 occupy an operative or clamping position when the rotary movement thereof is arrested, further rotation of the screw 7 will break or render the yieldable clutch connection ineffective so that the yoke and clamping member will no longer rotate with the actuating screw 7 and continued rotation of the screw willmove the clamping member 6 toward the inner surfaces of the ange 2 and cover 3.

While the device is herein illustrated and described as used for detachably securing the trim plate upon a panel board cabinet, it should be distinctly understood that the same is not necessarily limited to such use as obviously the device may be employed in numerous connections where a plurality of parts are to be detachablysecured or fastened together.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A fastening device comprising a clamping member, a rotatable actuating element adjustably connected to'said clamping member for moving the same toward and away from and operatively connected thereto When said clamping member is substantially free of clamping pressure for shifting said clamping member into and out of clamping position.

2. A fastening device comprising a clamping member, a rotatable actuating element adjustably connected to said clamping member for moving the same toward and away from the parts to be clamped, a plate-like member carried by said actuating element and operatively connected thereto when said clamping member is substantially free of clamping pressure for shifting said clamping member into and out of clamping position, and means associated with said plate like member and engageable with one. of the parts to be fastened for limiting shifting movement of said clamping member.

3. A fastening device comprising a clamping member, a nut pivotally connected thereto, a threaded actuating element threadedly connected with said nut for moving said clamping member toward and away from the parts to be clamped, a substantially U-shaped member sleeved upon said actuating element and straddling said clamping member, and co-acting means on said U-shaped member and said actuating element operable before or after the clamping member is moved toward or away from the parts to be clamped for establishing a yieldable driving connection therebetween for swinging the clamping member into and out of clamping position.

fastening device comprising a clamping member, a nut pivotally connected thereto, a threaded actuating element threadedly connected with said nut for moving said clamping member toward and away from the parts to be clamped, a plate-like member sleeved upon said actuating element and having a portion adapted to engage said clamping member, co-acting means on said platelike member and said actuating element for establishing a yieldable driving connection therebetwcen for swinging the clamping member into and out of clamping position, and means carried by said plate-like member and engageable with one of the parts to be fastened for limiting swinging movement of said clamping member.

5. A fastening device comprising a clamping member, an actuating element adj ustably connected to said clamping member for moving the same longitudinally of the element, means for preventing rotation of said clamping member with respect to said actuating element including a yoke sleeved upon said actuatin g element and having its arms arranged upon and adjacent opposite sides of said clamping member, and means carried by the first mentioned means for limiting the rotating movement of the clamping member rela tive to the parts to be fastened.

6. The combination with a flanged container and a cover adapted to be secured to the flange of said container, said cover being provided with a circular and an arcuate opening, of a fastening device comprising a clamping member adapted to engage the inner faces of said flange and cover, a headed actuating element extending through the said circular opening and having a cylindrical portion journaled therein, said actuating member being adjustably connected to said clamping member for moving the same toward or away from the inner faces of said cover, a yoke sleeved upon-said actuating element and having its arms disposed upon opposite sides of said clamping member, and means for establishing a yieldable driving connection between the actuating element and said yoke whereby said actuating element, yoke and clamping member will be moved as a unit, and a projection upon said yoke extending into said arcuate opening and engageable With the ends thereof for limiting unitary movement of said actuating element, clamping member and voke.

7. A fastening device comprising an actuating screw, a nut adjustable longitudinally of the screw upon rotation of the latter, a member having a separable clutch engagement with the screw whereby the latter may move in unison with or independently of said member, and having a projection engageable with a part to be clamped whereby the movement of the member may be limited, and a clamping member carried by the nut, movable by the member aforesaid about the screw when said member and screw move in unison, and movable by the nut longitudinally of the screw and relative to said member when the screw is actuated independently of the member; V

8. A fastening device comprising an actuating screw, a nut adjustable longitudinally of thescrew upon rotation of the latter, a clamping member pivoted on the nut, and a connection between said screw and clamping member operable to initially swing the clamp-- ing member and to subsequently move the nut and clamping member longitudinally of the screw, including a member straddling the clamping member, having a separable clutch engagement with the screw, and having a projection engageable with one of the parts to be clamped.

9. A fastening device comprising a clamping member, an actuating element connected to said clamping member, a member having a separable clutch engagement with said actuating element and operable to swing said clamping member into and out of clamping position, and means associated with said members for maintaining the clutch engage ment between said second member and element whereby said members may move in unison with said element and yieldable to permit declutching of the element from the second member after the members have moved a predetermined distance whereby the element may then move independently of said members to cause the first member to be moved relative to the second member to operative clamping position.

10. A fastening device comprising a rotary operating member having an exteriorly threaded portion, a nut adjustable longitudinally of the exteriorly threaded portion, a clamping member pivotally mounted on the nut, a substantially U-shaped member straddling the clamping member and having the base of the U sleeved upon the rotary operating member and adapted to be turned thereby for imparting turning movement to the clamping member, and spring means associated with portions of the rotary operating membcr and clamping member for holding the clamping member in a position permitting it to be turned by the U-shaped member aforesaid into clamping position.

11. A fastening device comprising a rotary operating member having an exteriorly threaded portion, a nut adjustable longitudinally of the exteriorly threaded portion, an elongated clamping member pivoted intermediate its ends upon said nut a member sleeved upon a portion of the rotary operating member and operable by the operating member for imparting turning movement to the clamping member, and spring means mounted on a portion of the operating member and having a part holding the clamping member in a position permitting it to be turned by the member aforesaid into clamping position.

12. A fastening device comprising a rotary operating member having an exteriorly threaded portion, a nut adjustable longitudinally of the exteriorly threaded portion, an elongated clamping member pivoted intermediate its ends upon said nut, a substantially U-shaped member straddling the clamping member whereby movement may be imparted from one to the other, the base JOHN G. JACKSON. 

